About Me

About Me

I'm John J. Giangrande and I am a private piano and guitar teacher.
I have been licensed by the Nevada Department of Education to teach music in
the public school system and I have been a music educator for over 30 years.
I am classically trained, hold a bachelors degree from the University of
California at Santa Barbara and a Teaching Credential from San Jose State
University in California. Since that time I have worked in both classroom and private settings.
I am a patient, easy-going teacher. I do my utmost to make the experience of
learning enjoyable. I enjoy helping dedicated students reach their educational goals.
Please read My Mission statement and
my Educational Philosophies below.

My primary mission in life is to help other people. I believe that all my students can achieve success.
I help my students believe in themselves. I foster, within my students, a desire to learn and
succeed. I express a natural interest, passion, and enthusiasm for the subjects
that I teach. I strive to support my students educational growth and
development. I assist students in becoming life-long learners, help them achieve
their educational goals, and help them appreciate their achievements along the
way. I encourage and support my students dreams and aspirations. I am
guided by my integrity and values in all my actions and endeavors. I treat
others with kindness and respect regardless of their race, gender, ability or
disabilities. I maintain a positive warm attitude toward others. I continue my
education to better myself and to better serve my students.
"The mediocre teacher tells.
The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires" ― William Arthur Ward

Self-Paced Learning
Self-paced learning allows each student to learn at their own
pace. The private lesson setting, rather than the group classroom
setting, allows for self-paced learning.

Mastery Learning
Mastery learning demands that the student master a foundational
educational objective before proceeding to subsequent educational objectives.
Students should master the level they are currently studying before moving on.

Literacy
Reading is the most important skill a
person can learn. With the ability to read, a library card and the desire
to learn, one can become the most educated person on the planet.*

Vocabulary
The most common barrier to successful learning is a lack of vocabulary
comprehension. A student, who once showed interest in the subject,
begins to develop a "dislike" the for subject and want to quit the lessons.
When asked "Why?" the student often replies "I don't know, I just don't like it anymore."

Purpose and Use
Too often students are asked to go through the
motions of learning something without knowing how they will use it and what
purpose it serves. Without knowing this essential element the education of any
concept is empty and lifeless.

Individuality
Students are individuals. Firstly, they have their own unique interests. Some are
find comfort in a step-by-step, instant success, approach. Some are unmotivated by exclusively focusing on a
step-by-step and want to try to achieve something beyond their current level (which will take greater time to
achieve success). Secondly, they have different learning styles. A primary goal is to identify how the
student best learns and then to present new information in the student's optimal learning style.
Only a self-paced, individualized approach can allow students to comfortably express their individual
motivational and educational needs.

*For some students, I recommend at the beginning a non-reading approach.
In much the same way, people learn to speak before they learn to read, it is beneficial to learn how do, before learning how to read.
These experiences provide the foundation for reading. As
soon as I believe the student is ready, they should
transition to reading for I am a firm believer in Lao
Tzu philosophy: "Give a man a fish; feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish; feed him for a lifetime."